How I desire that which is not good for me, that which is not beneficial to my good life! This is my earthly, not eternal, weakness.

“Until the return of Christ, we will always have the battle with the flesh, but we must not let it consume our lives… [we must instead] turn to the unlimited power source of the Holy Spirit.”
(WhatChristiansWantToKnow.com)

I searched on verses about “life struggle.” Yesterday I was feeling worn, and I was looking for hope.

I came across 2 Corinthians 12:9-10:

…Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
…when I am weak, then I am strong.

“We really don’t believe God’s grace is sufficient until we believe we are insufficient.”
(EnduringWord.com, commentary on 2 Corinthians 12)

That means completely not enough, especially in the area of that one weak link “which clings so closely.”

“…Oh, there must be the weakness of man, felt, recognized, and mourned over, or else the strength of the Son of God will never be perfected in us.”(commentary cont.)

What is it about our simple acceptance of His grace that enables us to be saved by it?

I think it has to do with truly realizing how He really sees us (which is a lot easier said than done).

“When we receive His grace, we enjoy our status of favor and approval in God’s eyes.

“Grace means that God likes us, that He is favorably disposed towards us and that we have His approval and promise of care… available all the time.

“When we sin or fail, it does not put us outside the reach of God’s grace. Since grace is given freely to us in Jesus, it can’t be taken away later because we stumble or fall.

“When we come to God through the blood of Jesus, His grace is ever ready to meet us and to minister to our insufficiencies.”
(commentary cont.)

Wow, I wish I’d written that! “To enjoy my status of favor and approval??” This is mind-blowing. Usually, I feel overwhelming guilt and shame about sinning and failing.

But the verse says to “boast all the more gladly” that I have this weakness! Because He can and does and will save me from it!

My imagery is that of F.U.M.E.S. filling the air around me and lifting me up, again and again and again. The mist is God’s

Forgiveness

Understanding

Mercy

Encouragement

Strength

He tells me that He knows and knows why I am fatally drawn to my “thing,” but that His glory is revealed through my use of the encouragement and strength He offers me.

Yes! We can “throw off everything that hinders… and run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

I have a vision of how this ultimately would play out for me:

I’m imprisoned and given the choice

to act all out in my ‘special’ way – with everything I could ever want

or to die in the way my captors would decide

I see myself choosing the latter – but not easily, struggling, so tempted, but eyes at last lifting to Christ and away from these desires, so powerful they have filled my waking and sleeping moments.

That would be the victory!

“In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.”Hebrews 12:4

“Endure hardship as discipline… as children disciplined by their father…”:7

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Marshall at Sharing God's Story (https://SharingGodsStory.net)
I follow Jesus Christ as a worship musician, writer, and speaker. I share God's incredible story in my life, a story of healing from brokenness, addiction, and failed health; a story of miraculous provision for me and my family; a story of studying His Word to find His purpose for me: sharing my time and talent to give a little hope to you...